<p>Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday asserted that no lives were lost in the state due to extremist violence in 2023, a year which also witnessed a “complete end to tribal militancy”.</p>.<p>Gradual removal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA from most parts of the state was another major achievement in peace efforts, he said.</p>.<p>“Due to sustained efforts of Union and State Govt, Assam is witnessing an era of peace and prosperity,” Sarma wrote on X.</p>.Himanta extends peace offer to ULFA's hardline faction, says final agreement with outfit's pro-talks group soon.<p>“In 2023, several groups laid down their arms, AFSPA was further revoked and no lives were lost to extremist violence, marking a successful year for the state,” he said.</p>.<p>The CM maintained that Assam has been transformed into an “abode of peace” and 2023 was “an unprecedented year as our policing and peace efforts bore fruit”.</p>.<p>The AFSPA has been gradually removed from the northeastern state, with only four districts now under its jurisdiction, he said.</p>.<p>It empowers security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone without any prior warrant, besides giving immunity from arrest and prosecution to the forces if they shoot someone dead, officials said.</p>.<p>Sarma also claimed that there has been a “complete end to tribal militancy” in Assam in 2023.</p>.<p>A total of 8,756 former militants have been rehabilitated in the last two years, with over Rs 300 crore invested for the purpose, he said.</p>.<p>Sarma added that skilling and ability enhancement training has been imparted to the surrendered militants, who are now “aiding in the state’s economic growth”.</p>
<p>Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday asserted that no lives were lost in the state due to extremist violence in 2023, a year which also witnessed a “complete end to tribal militancy”.</p>.<p>Gradual removal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA from most parts of the state was another major achievement in peace efforts, he said.</p>.<p>“Due to sustained efforts of Union and State Govt, Assam is witnessing an era of peace and prosperity,” Sarma wrote on X.</p>.Himanta extends peace offer to ULFA's hardline faction, says final agreement with outfit's pro-talks group soon.<p>“In 2023, several groups laid down their arms, AFSPA was further revoked and no lives were lost to extremist violence, marking a successful year for the state,” he said.</p>.<p>The CM maintained that Assam has been transformed into an “abode of peace” and 2023 was “an unprecedented year as our policing and peace efforts bore fruit”.</p>.<p>The AFSPA has been gradually removed from the northeastern state, with only four districts now under its jurisdiction, he said.</p>.<p>It empowers security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone without any prior warrant, besides giving immunity from arrest and prosecution to the forces if they shoot someone dead, officials said.</p>.<p>Sarma also claimed that there has been a “complete end to tribal militancy” in Assam in 2023.</p>.<p>A total of 8,756 former militants have been rehabilitated in the last two years, with over Rs 300 crore invested for the purpose, he said.</p>.<p>Sarma added that skilling and ability enhancement training has been imparted to the surrendered militants, who are now “aiding in the state’s economic growth”.</p>